The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1887-09-23
here. intchtto sec the spostacle that
Nasshortly t1take plaoA

there. intdhtIto sec the sPectacle that
Vnsshcrtly toeake pllce
Great preparations bad evidently
been made, for this esant.-AA large
pine-board platform. without flags.
drapery or decorations had been erect
ed in the middle of tho Paseo. A few
rough wooden steps led up to it. Upon
the platform was curious upright
machine, with q lever behind it and
rude chair in front of it. Around the
platform, and close up to it, the sol
diers were massed. Back of them. fill
ing all the space away to the walls of
the houses that inclosed the square,
was the great concourse of people.
All knew what was about to occur,
and the solemnity of the occasion hushed
the multitude to silence. But here and
there throughout the crowd there was
low murmur of conversation, hardly
loud enough to be noticed from the
platform, which was soon filled with
the actors in the dreadful tragedy
These murmured talks were of course
mainly in the Spanish language; and
the following, which was overheard
! and translated to me by an American,
will serve as q fair sample Of the
| whole:
! "a bad mana vile hombre."
"Ah yes, maledjtto! and our illus
trious and noble Captain-General
| Concha does well to summalily exc
cute him. What sayest thou?"
| "Bueno! i was born in Old CASTLE,
and / hate the Americanos, who are
always plotting and conspiring to
wrcst our fair Cuba from us. But
what has become of this fellows COM
patriots?"
"What-dost not know? Fifty-two
of the cut-throats were taken just out
side the walls and shot. Two hundred
more, at least, are in our dungeons;
and l hope the same may happen to
them"
The other gave an emphatic gesture
of assent, and was just about to make
some reply, when a procession of at
least two dozen persons passed be-
tween two Gong ranks Of soldiers with
shouldered muskets, assembled the
steps, and filled the platform. There
were more than n dozen guards; there
were several officers representing the
Captain-General, SO brilliant with their
gaudy uniforms that they looked like
n pageant; there was priest with
somber robes and look; and there was
one man in civilians dress, who in
stantly riveted upon himself the atten-
ton of the thousands of spectators.
"Ah!--now you see him!" one
of the Spaniards whom we just now
left whispering together. ''Dost see
, him, scnorP hate him and his tribe;
but, 20 give Satan his due, he is bold
looking fellow"
, "Who-the man not in uniformF"
J "The same. See his brown face; he
| was born in Venezuela, they say. All,
, that is the trouble; how can one be 4
: true son of old Spain if he be not born
e between the Bay of Biscay and the
G Mediterranean"
r "But they say he is brave"
1 The other shrugged his shoulders.
+; QUEEN Sdbe? l only know he is a
conspirator against old Spain"
There was momcntary pause on the
) platform. The soldiers with their
! muskets and bayonets lined every
foot of its outer edge, except a small
) space of that side toward which the
, chair faced. The officers were grouped
about the man in the citizens clothes.
The priest approached him; he bowed
: respectfully, but motoncd him away.
/ Now, in the last moments of this mans
life, let us look at him. He is OF
, medium height and powerful frame.
| His face has the bronze of the Castil-
I | ian hut also n frankucSs and an omen.